UN Abandons Golan Post After Kidnappings

A spokesman for the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), in charge of monitoring the 1974 ceasefire between Israel and Syria, has announced that their troops have moved out of an observation post in the ceasefire zone after yesterday’s kidnappings.

Yesterday’s incident saw the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, a Syrian rebel faction, kidnapping four UNDOF troops “for their own safety.” The group claims the four are free to leave at any time, but it does not appear that they have actually been released yet.

The same rebel faction had kidnapped 21 UNDOF troops in early March, and accused the latest troops of “shielding” government forces after a battle over control of a Golan village.

Most of the contributing nations have already abandoned the UNDOF, with the Philippines sure to rethink it after a second round of kidnappings as well. Though the fighting in southern Syria now is surely rebels vs. Syrian government forces, recent Israeli air strikes suggest that the ceasefire between those nations is in serious jeopardy as well.

Author: Jason Ditz

4 thoughts on “UN Abandons Golan Post After Kidnappings”

Par for the course . The UN peacekeepers pull out if something disrupts the peace . Isn't kidnapping a important part of Jihad . I think South Korea paid to get their Christians released in Afghanistan , Why won't the UN pay to get their personel released too ? The rebels refuse to agree to elections unless the elections are run by the rebels . Thats the reason Assad has to go first .. I presume Assad will agree to elections , if he can run the elections . Doesn't sound like the Arab spring really plans on running free and open elections anyway .

There has been much talk about the illegal use of poison gas . I'am sure Syria did not make their own poison gas . Why don't we findout who sold it to Syria and prosecute them . I think it was that criminal Saddam Hussien ? well he is dead and has already been executed . Iraq did not manufacture poison gas , So lets punish whoever sold the illeagal gas to Iraq . That might be U.S.A. ? Why don't we prosecute the criminals that sold the illeagal gas to Iraq . If poison gas is a game changer , lets change the game and punish the criminals that sold the illeagal poisonous gas to Iraq .

Why can the UN guys be simply "kidnapped"? Are they unarmed? Are they under orders to take the submission position at the first hint of trouble? Can't they be bothered to at least attempt to not be taken alive by a random group of cheeky breekies?